Geography and Environment

Geographers explore answers to questions like:

Where are things or people located on the surface of the earth? Why are they located there? What processes are at work in developing those regions or features?

Student collecting data for an applied topics course at a restored wetland in eastern Manitoba.

Students get real world/practical experience with stream gauging at field sites near Brandon University

If you are interested in the relationships between the environment and society and want to learn about landscapes and people, consider studying geography. Geography is about place and space. It studies the interdependence among regions, natural systems, physical features, society, and cultural activities. Using a “spatial” perspective, it aims to form a coherent understanding of Earth.

People with geography skills apply what they know successfully in a wide variety of fields. Out recent grads have embarked on careers in urban and regional land use planning, conservation and resource management, mapping, geographic information systems and remote sensing, parks and recreation, teaching and research.

Students have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience through a practicum course, with applied academic training in geography to a project on or off campus. Others work closely with faculty to pursue their interests in a specific field of geography in a Directed Studies or Undergraduate Thesis course.

Centre for Geomatics

The department hosts the Centre for Geomatics, which is a dedicated computer lab with facilities for geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and cartography. Practical training in this field significantly increases your employment marketability upon graduation.

John Langton Tyman Map Library

The John Langton Tyman Geography Reading Room houses a collection of atlases and topographic maps of Manitoba and Canada, as well as maps from around the world. Now located on the main floor of the John E. Robbins Library, it is a National Map Depository.

Interdisciplinary Master of Science in Environmental & Life Sciences

Brandon University is offering a graduate degree in Interdisciplinary Master of Science in Environmental and Life Sciences (MELS) program. The department of Geography is one of the ‘core’ departments, along with Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Geology. Click here to learn more about MELS.

Department Notices

Welcome to new Faculty Members - The Department of Geography and Environment is pleased to welcome two new faculty members, Dr Kristen Lowitt and Dr Alexandra Giancarlo, to Brandon University this year.